'N.Korean economy unlikely to face imminent crisis despite sanctions, Covid'

Seoul, Dec 23 (IANS) North Korea's economy is unlikely to face an imminent crisis despite struggles stemming from crippling sanctions and border restrictions due to anti-virus efforts, experts have said.

The North has continued imports of essential economic materials, such as crude oil and fertilizers, which lessens the chances of its industries becoming paralyzed, Yonhap news agency quoted Choi Ji-young, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, as saying.

"Crude oil has been introduced to the country regardless of sanctions, while local fertilizer production has increased after Kim Jong-un came to power," she said at a seminar in Seoul. "(North Korea) has also imported fertilizers this year by sea."

Choi Eun-ju, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute, said, the North is unlikely to make a shift in its foreign policy direction under the current situation.

"If North Korea is to change its stance at the international stage due to economic difficulties, the situation should be as bad as in the 1990s. But the situation won't get that bad," she said.

Choi added that the reclusive country's economy has undergone some reform under Kim, citing moves such as giving more responsibilities to its companies.

But efforts to improve its economic situation have faced limitations in recent years due to stronger UN Security Council sanctions and the impact from Covid-19.

North Korea's economy is estimated to have contracted 4.5 per cent last year, compared with 1.3 per cent growth in 2012.